Steelers free agent period is set to begin

Dale Lolley

03/01/2005

With Kendrell Bell set to be an unrestricted free agent, the Steelers couldn't afford to lose linebacker Larry Foote.
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And they didn't, as Steelers and Foote agreed to a new five-year deal Tuesday, the day before the NFL's free agent period began.
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Foote, who was slated to become a restricted free agent, started
all 16 games in 2004 and both playoff games after replacing
Bell, who missed all but parts of three games with multiple
injuries. Foote recorded 78 tackles and three sacks last season.

A fourth-round draft pick in 200, Foote is the first of the team's
restricted free agents to re-sign. The team also has made
qualifying offers to running back Verron Haynes, safety Chris Hope, defensive end Brett Keisel, wide receiver Lee Mays and
kicker Jeff Reed.

With the NFL's free agency period set to begin at midnight
Tuesday night, the Steelers face the proposition of losing a
starting wide receiver, the 2001 NFL Defensive Rookie of the
Year and the entire right side of their offensive line.

Yet the Steelers aren't expected to be a major player on the
free-agent market and will instead look internally and to the draft
to fill most of their needs.

The Steelers don't have the salary cap space needed to shop for
a big-name free agent as they did last year when they signed
running back Duce Staley, who was considered the best
available player at his position.

That won't be enough money to sign wide receiver Plaxico Burress, Bell or offensive linemen Oliver Ross and Keydrick Vincent. All are expected to sign elsewhere, with Burress and
Bell likely to strike deals with new teams as early as this week.

Cornerback Willie Williams, who started the final 10
regular-season games and both postseason contests after
Scott was injured, is also a free agent. But the 35-year-old
Williams is unlikely to get many offers and the Steelers should
be able to re-sign him, if they choose.

Muhsin Muhammed, released by Carolina last week, quickly
signed a six-year deal with Chicago that included a signing
bonus of $12 million, perhaps setting the bar for wide receivers
out of the Steelers' price range. Because he was released by
Carolina, Muhammed did not need to wait for the free-agent
period to begin before signing with a new team.

If they do not replace Burress in free agency, Antwaan Randle El
will be counted upon to step into the starting lineup, something
he did last season when Burress missed four games. The
Steelers will then select a wide receiver in the first few rounds of
the draft to help ease Burress' loss.

Vincent started all 16 games at right guard last season after
Kendall Simmons suffered a knee injury during training camp.
Simmons is expected to be 100 percent by mini-camp in June,
making Vincent expendable.

Ross, meanwhile, was the starting right tackle the past two
seasons. But the Steelers selected Max Starks in the third round
of last year's draft and he's expected to move into the lineup after
impressing as an extra blocker in short-yardage situations.

The Steelers wouldn't mind bringing back Ross as a backup, but
aren't going to overpay to do so.